MARION — News of a new grocery store coming to Marion has people talking.

Neal Zimmerman said curious residents have been driving by and stopping in since shortly after he purchased the old Shurfine store at 3948 N. Main St. Dutchland Foods is expected to open sometime in August, Zimmerman said.

It’s been eight years since the Marion community lost its local grocery store, but residents are excited to welcome the new bulk food store. Zimmerman said the store will be an independent grocery store offering a variety of bulk foods, a full line of groceries and locally grown in-season produce year-round. The store will also carry freezer items and fresh meat.

The store’s primary focus, Zimmerman said, will be on the in-store deli and bakery at Dutchland. The deli will offer a variety of deli meats and cheeses, and the bakery will provide an array of homemade baked goods Zimmerman’s wife will make from scratch.

For now, Zimmerman said he will focus on offering community members the groceries they need before anything else and products available will vary to meet demand. The store will be owned and operated by Zimmerman and his family.

Zimmerman said he first looked at the site more than a year ago.

“This was a long-range plan we’ve had for a while,” he said. “We drove by and it was available, so here we are.”

Vacant for eight years, the building was in bad shape. Zimmerman, who has worked in construction for years, had to almost gut the inside and replace the roof. Marion Supervisor Monica Deyo said the building has been empty for so long, Zimmerman had to do considerable repair. He replaced the flat roof with a peaked roof to prevent water from ponding and causing leaks. Besides the new roof, Zimmerman said he added some walls, a storage area out back and the porch out front.

Deyo said Zimmerman’s efforts are more appreciated than he knows.

“This new store means a great deal to the community,” she said. “Now people will stay in town to buy. I’ve had a lot of feedback from residents, and they believe it will be a destination.”

Deyo said the community has survived without a store for long enough. Convenience foods are great, she added, but “we need fresh produce. We need more variety.” Based on the feedback she has received, she believes the deli, bakery and bulk foods will each be a big draw that will bring people into Marion to shop, as well as help fill kitchen cupboards for local residents.

“People realize now that if they don’t support local stores, they won’t be there anymore,” she said. “They’re ready to step up to the plate now.”